Coronavirus live updates: May 21 2020

The disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 crisis in Bristol has been laid bare in a new report.

The study by Black South West Network (BSWN) assesses the effect on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) companies, organisations and individuals, revealing how pre-existing dynamics of socio-economic structural inequality are exacerbated by the pandemic and social distancing rules.

The organisation is calling for more tailored support, saying the Government’s ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is failing some communities.

4.58pm
Here are some of the day’s developments:

• Bristol City Council has launched #WeAreBristol Kids, an online resource to better connect children within the city during the coronavirus pandemic and after.
• The Office for National Statistics says the number of people with coronavirus in England remains stable, which has found that 137,000 people had coronavirus at any given time during the two weeks from May 4 to 17
• Tobacco Factory Theatres and with The Cube have launched a hardship fund for creatives living in the Bristol area.

4.45pm
Bristol City Council has launched #WeAreBristol Kids, an online resource to better connect children within the city during the coronavirus pandemic and after.

The hub has a strong focus on Bristol and aims to bring children together in an entertaining, informative way.

So far, actor Joe Sims has been reading children’s books has, Great British Bake Off’s Briony May has been making scones and and Bristol Rovers have recorded an exercise video.

“This new resource aims to encourage reading, cooking, physical activity, art and the opportunity to engage with the Mayor and our wider local democracy,” says Helen Godwin, cabinet member for women, children and young people.

“With the input of kids from across our beautiful and diverse city, we will create an online hub that tells the story of Bristol’s young people during lockdown and beyond.”

4.02pm
NHS services in Bristol will remain open on the upcoming Bank Holiday Monday.

“Although we are urging people to stay alert and continue to maintain social distancing over the bank holiday weekend, we also want to remind people not to ignore symptoms or injuries,” says Dr Jonathan Hayes, local GP and clinical chair of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group.

“Our health and care services are still available to provide support when you need it.”

3.18pm
The Office for National Statistics says the number of people with coronavirus in England remains stable, which has found that 137,000 people had coronavirus at any given time during the two weeks from May 4 to 17 – 0.25 per cent of the country’s population.

2.13pm
Tobacco Factory Theatres and with The Cube have launched a hardship fund for creatives living in the Bristol area.

1.24pm
More of Bristol than ever before can be discovered from the comfort of our own homes. Read more about the resurgence of local history during lockdown here.

12.04pm
The team at Bristol24/7 are working around the clock to bring you all the latest coronavirus news and stories from around the city. Read some of our most recent stories:

• Supporting maternal mental health during coronavirus
• Looking after The Matthew during pandemic
• More than 7,000 free school meals delivered by Square Food Foundation
• Idles release new music video filmed in their own homes

11.12am
Created in 2017 as a response to the Brexit referendum and subsequent political upheavals, Midnight Ritual is a night for people who “identify with the idea of a borderless world”.

The night, founded by Pablo Villierezz, showcases on contemporary Latin American expressions of electronic music.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the event, which has taken place at the Old Market Assembly, the Stag and Hounds and the Plough, to go online.

“As Covid-19 hit in earnest I became concerned for my local scene, friends and colleagues who rely on events for income who were suddenly really stuck for cash and work,” says Pablo.

“Without thinking about it too much, I set up a virtual version of Midnight Ritual through Zoom and promoted it as a free for all event, committing to run it every Friday whilst in lockdown.”

Pablo says the online experience makes the wish for a borderless world even more prevalent.

“The event helped achieve some kind of catharsis on that first week of lockdown; people could socialise in a new way, party past midnight and still listen to great music they loved whilst experiencing a global crisis,” Pablo adds.

“After the first party people started to call the event a Virtual Rave, so I stuck with that name and continued hosting weekly parties with a growing number of DJs in the lineups.”

Find out more and get involved at www.facebook.com/midnightritual.

10.17am
Pre-lockdown, researches at the University of Bristol were collecting people’s views on climate change and the city’s future.

“We were particularly interested in what changes people were prepared to see and tolerate for a better, more sustainable future,” says Martin Parker, who is involved with the project. “We spoke to 400 odd residents across all areas of Bristol before everything changed, the city streets emptied, the air cleared and the world as we knew it was different.”

Researchers at the University of Bristol want to find out about people’s views on climate change, post-pandemic. Photo: Ellie Pipe

Now, the team of researchers want to find out if people’s views have changed in light of the pandemic, by filling out a short survey.

The research will be shared with policy makers working on local impacts of climate change.

9.24am
University of Bristol students have been volunteering during lockdown.

Student group 180 Degrees Consulting and have set up the Covid-19 Student Response Network, which connects student volunteers with local charities. Up to 30 charities are being supported with fundraising, social media and digitization of services from student volunteers.

University of Bristol Phab, which brings disabled and non-disabled young people together, and Pitstop, which takes teenagers with learning disabilities away on both weekend and day trips, have been working together during the pandemic.

They have sent activity packs, created by WECIL, to the families they usually support; they are currently unable to carry out their usual activities.

Bristol Student Union (SU)’s Care Leavers and Estranged Students Network has been supporting students by packaging and delivering 45 Covid-19 care packages for members of the network during lockdown. The network has also collaborated with Bristol Islamic Society to host virtual Iftar meals for students during Ramadan.

Other work students have been helping with include donating pet food, helping at food banks and creating 3D-printed PPE.

Doctors at a Bristol hospital wearing 3D-printed PPE. Photo: Hack The Pandemic

“Bristol SU has a long tradition of community volunteering in Bristol,” says Sam Budd, Bristol SU chief executive.

“It is inspiring to see how our students continue to demonstrate their commitment to the wider Bristol community through their contribution to a collective volunteering response to this extraordinary crisis.”

8.45am
Good morning and welcome to today’s live blog. These are some of the latest developments:

• Boris Johnson was challenged by Labour leader Keir Starmer during PMQs over the “continued delay” in testing at care homes. The prime minister has said the UK will have a “world-beating” tracing system in place by the June 1.
• A “ground-breaking passenger counting facility” is among the measures being introduced to ensure social distancing guidelines can be adhered to on all Bristol’s buses.
• The organisers of Valley Fest have announced the festival will be postponed until 2021.
• Artspace Lifespace has been awarded funding it says will be instrumental in supporting artists and creative practitioners in Bristol and the surrounding area.
• #WeAreBristolKids is a new resource for children and parents launched by Bristol City Council.
• Bristol24/7 is on the hunt for new journalists to help us report community news during the coronavirus crisis.

Main photo by Ellie Pipe

Read more: ‘Schools in Bristol must only reopen when it is safe to do so’